Fruit-gatherer.



PATBNTED AUG. 11,I 1903.

L. SGARBROUGH.

FRUIT GATHBRER. APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPTA. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

62X) Mmc/oas 4@ f@ mm,

1H: Nonms PETERS Co Pnoro uTHn wAsHrNoraN n c Patented August 11, 1903.

PATENT; QFFICE.

LEVI scARBRoUcI-I, on KENIA, ILLINOIS..

FRUIT-GATHERER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 736,028, dated August 11, 1903.

Application iiled September 4, 1902. Serial No. 122,076. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI ScARBRoUeILa citizen of the United States, residing at Xenia, in the county of Clay and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Gatherers; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to fruit-gatherers adapted to pick fruit from the tree and deliver the same to a bag or other receptacle without injury. It includes a tubular chute, at the head of which jaws are formed to receive and cut 0E the fruit, which then rolls down the tube.

The object of the invention is to forman improved device of the kind stated, and among the novel features are a jointed construction of the tube, whereby it can be taken apart and placed in a small space when desired, and a novel arrangement of the cutting-jaw and the means to operate the same, and the provision of ya rest to support the device on the thigh of the operator.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a. front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig.v 3 is a cross-section.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates a wooden frame or strip which forms the sta of the picker. This strip is made in sections hinged together, as at 6i. The hinges are formed with open knuckles, as indicated at 6b, hooked under the pintles, so that they will come apart when bent to va sufficient degree. For the sake of lightness and so that the interior of the tube can be got at the sections of the frame are cut away to form openings 6d.

A tube is formed on each section by means of metal bows 7, covered on the outside by canvas or other fabric (indicated at 7 a) and lined on the inside with cotton-batting or other padding, as indicated at 7b. To prevent bending and disjointing of the sections, hooks and eyes 8 engage at the joints. This construction permits the addition or removal of sections to suit the height and nature of' the trees being operated on.

The head-section of the tube is enlarged, as at 9, to form a mouth of suitable size with a fixed jaw having a projecting blade 10. The movable jaw 11 is pivoted at 11a to the bow of the fixed jaw and is normally held open by a' spring 11b. The jaws are closed by means of a iieXible wire or cord 12, which extends from connectionwith the movable jaw through screw-eyes 12a on the frame to a lever-handle 13, pivoted to the foot-section of the tube. The jaws are padded within, similar to the tube.

The foot-section of the frame and tube is provided with a supporting-handle 14. and also with a thigh-rest, comprising a bow 15 and its stem 15a, which latter is swiveled in the head of a bracket 15b, fixed to the foot of the section. This permits the device to be easily supported and readily moved around and about to get at the fruit easily. The fabric portion of the tube is extended, as at 7c, at the bottom, which extension may be entered into a bag or basket or brought near the ground to drop the fruit softly thereon without bruising.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure v vin presence of two witnesses.

LEVI SCARBROUGII.

' Witnesses:

J W. CoRRY, AARON MCENDRE. 

